Rubber sole



G. F. QUINN RUBBER SOLE June 7, 1932.

Filed Dec. 26, 1950 Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES GILBERT F.QUINN, OF BEACHMONT, MASSACHUSETTS RUBBER SOLE v Application filedDecember 26, 1930. Serial No. 504,728.

This invention relates to a rubber outer sole for use in a shoe whichincludes an inner sole and an upper lasted on the inner soleY and havinga marginal flange turned inward- 5 ly on the marginal portion of theouter face of the inner sole, said flange constituting a seat for themarginal portion of the inner face of the outer sole. i Y

The object of the invention is to provide a it rubber outer sole havinga resilient sealing zone adapted to be closely conformed to theturned-in iiange of the upper under the insole, by pressure exerted onthe outer sole by the fastening means securing it to the upper andinsole, and prevent entrance of moisture between the outer sole and allportions of the seat including the irregular folded or puckered portionsthereof where the toe and heel portions of the upper are curved andattached to the toe and heel portions of the inner sole.

Another object is to provide a sealing zone adapted to cooperate withouter sole seats of shoes of different sizes, widths and shapes iwithout loss of sealing effect.

Of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a rubber outer sole embodying the invention.

"J Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section of a shoe which includes myimproved outer sole.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section similar to a portion of Figure3, showing the sealing face distorted and more closely conformed to theseat by pressure exerted by the fastening means securing the outer sole.

T he same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In the drawing, 12 designates an inner sole, and 13 an upper lastedthereon and having its margin turned inwardly on the outer face of theinner sole to form a flange 43 14` constituting a marginal seat for arubber outer sole 15.

In a shoe of the character shown, the outer sole is attached to theupper and inner sole by fastening means 16, which may be formed eitherby the McKay, the Littleway, the nailwith the flanges 14 of uppers ofdierent ing or the standard screw process of shoemaking. The sole mayybe made of any of the rubber compositions used for rubber soles andheels, and may have any desired degree of resilience.

1n carrying out my invention I provide the inner side of the rubber sole15 with a resilient sealing Zone, formed to bear yieldingly on theflange 14, and adapted to be distorted by pressure exerted on the soleby the fastening means, so that said Zone may be caused to conformaccurately to, and have continuous contact with the flange, includingthe irregular folded or puckered portions thereof at the toe and heel,and prevent entrance of moisture between the outer sole and all portionsof the seat. a

Said sea-ling zone is preferably provided by a plurality of parallelresilient ridges 17 integral with the outer sole and extending entirelyaround the same, as shown by Figure 1, each ridge having a continuousacute angled apex bearingvon the ange 14. Each ridge is preferably aboutone-sixteenth of an inch high and theapexes of the ridges are 75preferably spaced about one-eighthV of an inch apart.

Four ridges are provided in the present instance, but the number may begreater or less than four. The sealing zone formed by the ridges isinclined upwardly from the inner to the outer edge of said Zone, as bestshown by Figure 3. When the outer sole is attached, the pressure exertedby the fastening means causes a distortion of the ridges outwardly, asshown by Figure 4, the thin and extremely flexible resilient apexes ofthe ridges being thus caused to conform to irregularities in the flange14, suchv as the usual fold or puckers in the toe and heel portions 90of the flange, said apexes entering the depressions formed by the foldsor puclrers. Each ridge therefore constitutes a continuous dam, adaptedto prevent the entrance of moisture between the sealing face and theseat 14. The number of ridges is preferably such that the sealing faceis of approximately the same width as the flange 14, so that the sealingface is adapted to cooperate g lower than the angled apex con 'at thetoe and heel portions sizes. In the larger sizes a smaller number ofridges will Contact with the flange 14 than in the smaller sizes.

The outer sole is provided with a shedding face 20, surrounding thesealing face and inclined outwardly and downwardly from the outer marginthereof. Said shedding face and the outer margin of the sealingzoneintersect to form a resilient ridge, one side of which is formed by thesealing face and the other side by one of the faces of the sealing zone.At the intersection of said faces is an angular apex which bears on theupper and prevents water flowing down the side of the upperfromfindineits'way to the sealing" face, such water being shed or causedto flow outward by the sealing face.

The inner face portion 21 of the outer sole surrounded by the sealingface is somewhat sealing face, and supports a bottom filler 22.

I claim l. A rubber outer solo for a shoe which includes an inner soleand an upper whose mar- :iginal portion constitutes an inwardlyprojecting flange, said outer sole having on its inner face a. resilientsealing zone, formed to bear yieldingly on said flan and including acontinuous resilient ridge having an acute tacting with the outer sideof said flange and distortable by pressure of the outer sole against theflange, so that the ridge constitutes a dam whose apex is sufficientlyflexible to conform closely tofolds or puckers of the flanges, andprevent entrance of moisture between the outer sole and all portions ofthe flange.

2. A rubber outer sole for a shoe which includes an inner sole and anupper whosemarginal portion constitutes an inwardly projecting flange,said outer sole having on its inner face a. resilient sealing Zone,formed to bear yieldingly on said flange and including a pluralityl ofparallel resilient ridges extending around the sole, each ridge havingan acute angled apex contacting with the outer side of said flange anddistortable by pressure of the outer sole against the flange, so thateach ridge constitutes a dam whose apex is suffi- ,ciently flexible toconform closely to folds or puckers at the toe and heel portions of theflange and prevent entrance of moisture between the sole and allportions of the flange.

3. A rubber outer sole for a shoe which includes an inner sole and anupper whose niarginal portion constitutes an inwardly pro-V jectingflange, said outer sole having on its inner face a resilient sealingzone, formed to' bear yieldingly on said flange and including aplurality of parallel resilient ridges extending around the sole, eachridge having an acute angled apex contacting with' the outer side ofsaid flange and distort-able by pressure of the outer sole against theflange, so

-that each ridge constitutes a dam whose apex is sufficiently flexibleto conform closely to folds or puckers at the toe and heel portions ofthe flange and prevent entrance of moisture between the sole and allportions of the flange, the width of said Zone being approximately equalto that o f the flange, so that the sealing Zone may cooperate withupper flanges of shoes of different sizes.

4. A rubber outer sole for a shoe which includes an inner sole and anupper whose marginal portion constitutes an inwardly projecting flange,said outer sole having on its inner face a resilient sealing zone,formed to bear yieldingly on said flange and including a plurality ofparallel resilient ridges extending around the sole, each ridge havingan acute angled apex contacting with the outer side of said flange anddistortable by pressure of the outer sole against the flange, so thateach ridge constitutes a dam whose apex is suciently flexible toconformclosely to folds or puckers at the toe and heel portions of the flangeand prevent entrance of moisture between the sole and all portions ofthe flange, the sealing zone being transversely inclined so that theouter margin thereof is higher than the inner, the outer sole having ashedding face surrounding' the sealing Zone, and inclined outwardly anddownwardly from the outer margin thereof, said shedding face and theouter margin of the sealing zone intersecting to form a resilient ridgehaving an angular apex contacting with and conforming closely to theshoe upper, so that the shedding face is adapted to outwardly deflectall .L

water flowing downwardly on the upper.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GILBERT F. QUINN.

